CAMELLIA JAPONICA - GOVERNOR EARL WARREN - Immense ...

A Non-Profit Organization 

Volume 2, No.4 OFFICIAL BULLETIN April, 1949 

CAMELLIA JAPONICA - GOVERNOR EARL WARREN - Immense pink 

incomplete double large petals with stamens intermixed, of unusual depth. 

Formerly called Edwards No. 102. 

Courtesy John Edwards, Edwards' Nursery, Palo Alto. 

Southern California Camellia Society, Inc.

2 

PRESIDENT: . 

D. L. Feathers (Lafayette 2747) 

1 Camellia Lane, Lafayette 1 

VICE-PRESIDENT: 

Walker M. Wells, M.D., (HU 3-0951) 

133 Hagar St., Piedmont. 

SECRETARY-TREASURER: 

Barlow Hollingshead (Orinda 2054) 

12 La Cintilla Ave., Orinda. 

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN: 

PROGRAM: 

L. P. Glaudon (2044-R) 

21 Yolanda Drive, San Anselmo. 

MEMBERSHIP: 

G. Myron Grismore, D.D.S. (KE 2-3449) 

3618 Victor Ave., Oakland. 

HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH: 

Gordon W. Richmond, M.D. (RI1742-J 

475 Mount St., Richmond. 

LAKESIDE PARK CAMELLIA PLANTING: 

Northern California Camellia Society 

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMELLIA SOCIETY 

ROSTER OF OFFICERS 

DIRECTORS: 

L. P. Glaudon (2044--R) 

21 Yolanda Drive, San Anselmo. 

Louis J. Macchia (l682-W) 

2236 Carmelita Drive, San Carlos. 

Gordon W. Richmond, M.D. (RI 1742-J) 

475 Mount St., Richmond. 

Harold L. Paige (OL 2-5040) 

5651 Oak Grove Ave., Oakland 9 

DOOR PRIZES: 

H. G. Sanders (KE 3-2211) 

4138 Eastlake Ave., Oakland 2. 

BLOOM DISPLAY: 

Bruce Harless (LA 5-8218) 

1301 Stannage Ave., Berkeley. 

RECEPTION: 

Charles W. Ehlers (GL 1-8295) 

785 Trestle Glen Road, Oakland 10 

O. E. Hopfer (AN 1-5737) ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW: 

1872 Brentwood Road, Oakland. Chairman: D. L. Feathers 

BULLETIN EDITOR: 1 Camellia Lane, Lafayette 1 

Mrs. Barlow Hollingshead (Orinda 2054) Vice-Chairman: Walker M. Wells, M.D. 

12 La Cintilla Ave., Orinda. (HU 3-0951) 133 Hagar St., Piedmont. 

The Northern California Camellia Society is a non-profit organization of camellia fanciers 

interested in the culture, propagation, and development of camellias. Meetings are held on 

the first Monday in each month from October to May inclusive, at 8 p.m., at the Chabot School 

Auditorium, Oakland. Membership is open to all those with a serious interest in the subject. 

Annual dues $5.00. Membership application blanks may be obtained from Barlow W. S. 

Hollingshead, Secretary-Treasurer, 12 La Cintilla Avenue, Orinda, California. 

Published by the Northern California Camellia Society. Inc. 

Copyright, 1949 

INTERSOCIETY SPONSORING OF SHOW ISSUE 

We have the honor of announcing Show displayed such remarkable 

that the April, 1949, number - the blooms that C. Breschini of San Jose 

Show Issue of the BULLETIN is being carried off the Sweepstakes Award 

sponsored jointly by three Northern and many Sacramentans were high 

California organizations: Camellia So- on the multiple points list: A. R. Carciety 

of Santa Clara County, Camellia stensen, Mrs. Helen D. Brown, Mrs. 

Society of Sacramento, and Northern Carl M. Hoskinson, A. E. Morrison, 

California Camellia Society, Inc. and J. E. Bachman. At the Sacramento 

Show, on the other hand, many 

The BULLETIN Editor has attempted awards went to members of the Santa 

to report all three shows as well as Clara County and Northern California 

the Fourth Annual Convention of the Camellia Society groups, with C. 

American Camellia Society at Sacra- Breschini of San Jose again winning 

menta. Sweepstakes, Dr. Walker M. Wells of 

In glancing through the lists of Piedmont receiving the trophy for the 

prizes and awards, both at Berkeley best flower in the show, and Dr. G. 

and at Sacramento, the friendly ri- Myron Grismore the trophy for the 

valry between the three organizations best three blooms in the show. The 

is at once apparent. San Jose and San Jose Camellia Show is non-com- 

Sacramento exhibitors at the Berkeley petitive.


HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS 

Camellia Test Garden 

By William Hertrich, Curator Emeritus 

Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California 

In the spring of 1912 Mr. Huntington 

asked the writer to suggest some 

sort of improvement suitable to a 

small canyon bordering the gardens 

to the west. This ravine extended 

from south to north for about 1000 

feet, narrow on both ends but widening 

to almost 500 feet through the 

center, was covered with live oaks 

with the exception of the center portion 

which in former years had 

served as a reservoir. 

This location seemed to lend itself 

admirably to development of an idea 

that Mr. Huntington wished to carry 

out: a Japanese Garden. After preparing 

a plan and specifications Mr. 

Huntington laid down one stipulation, 

to wit, completion of the picture in 

three months' time. Plants selected 

for this garden were to be indigenous 

to Japan and China, including azaleas, 

camellias, rhododendrons. Some 

of these plants I had already set out 

under the oaks on the higher slopes 

in 1909 and 1910, and under the live 

oaks north of the large residence. 

The Japanese Garden, now known 

as the Oriental Garden, became thus 

one of the many units to form a nucleus 

for a botanical collection of 

exotic plants on this extensive private 

estate. When I took the position of 

Superintendent on January L 1905, 

I proceeded step by step to landscape 

several hundred acres, beginning 

with the aquatic garden and the 

palm collection. Next in attention 

came the cactus garden, then a large 

rose and cut-flower planting; an extensive 

kitchen garden, berry plantings, 

fruit orchards, endless numbers 

of trees and shrubs to tie together 

the different units; and finally an intimate 

section devoted to ferns and 

cycads. The fruit tree developments 

included citrus, avocados and per- 

simmons, collectively covering considerable 

acreage. 

In 1919 Mr. Huntington established 

a trust indenture to perpetuate for the 

people of California his famous collection 

of eighteenth century English 

paintings and other art objects housed 

in the family residence. His private 

library also was considered one of 

the outstanding private libraries in 

the world, and a separate building 

was planned and constructed to 

house it. As garden setting for this 

remarkable cultural offering, two hundred 

acres of ground were set aside 

in the trust, with an endowment of 

funds to maintain the whole: Art Gallery, 

Library, Botanical Gardens. 

After the establishment of the trust 

indenture, the plant material within 

the 200-acre area took on added significance 

as a permanent feature, in 

place of its former aspect as a pleasure 

garden on a private family estate. 

Test Garden 

As stated above, some of the camellias 

had been planted as early as 

1909; others were added from time 

to time. As soon as seeds became 

available from the first plantings, 

young plants were raised and set 

out; propagations from cuttings were 

added from year to year, as well. In 

1915 I placed an order with Mr. Sasuki 

of the Yokohama Nursery Company 

of Japan. I had met him in San 

Francisco while attending the World's 

Fair. During our conversation pertaining 

to ornamental plants, camellias 

were mentioned and we talked at 

length on the subject. The result was 

a promise by Mr. Sasuki to send us 

a collection of selected varieties of 

camellias, after he had returned to 

his own country. 

The year passed and so did 1916 

and 1917, and by then I had given 

up hope of ever receiving the promised 

plants; but in the spring of 1918, 

3

4 Northern California Camellia Society 

shortly before the U. S. quarantine 

restrictions on the importation of 

plants with soil attached became effective, 

the plants arrived - all in 

good condition. Some of these speciments 

were planted to the north of 

the Huntington residence; others 

under the oaks adjacent to the Oriental 

Gardens. Most of these plants are 

still growing in locations where originally 

planted. 

As the years passed, other varieties 

were added: in 1942 a major addition 

was made of 125 plants which 

boosted considerably the number of 

newer varieties. Some were acquired 

by purchase, others in exchange for 

camellia seed or seedlings, and some 

came to the gardens as contributions 

from an organization known as The 

Friends of the Huntington Library. 

The progressive increase in our collection 

of camellias became known 

to many a visitor to the Botanical Gardens-among 

them members of the 

Southern California Camellia Society. 

One member in particular of this 

Camellia Society, Anne Galli, approached 

the Curator regarding the 

possibility of cooperation between 

the Society and the Botanical Gardens, 

in establishing a camellia test 

garden in the natural setting of the 

Huntington Gardens, incorporating 

the already established varieties, and 

leaving ample space for additional 

species and varieties later. An arrangement 

was finally made between 

the Trustees of the Huntington Library 

and the Directors of the Southern 

California Camellia Society, that 

crowned the hopes of the Curator and 

members of the Society. It has been 

our earnest hope that this particular 

garden will become a thing of educational 

importance to all concerned, 

and continue to be a thing of beauty 

since the camellia is surely one of 

our most beautiful evergreen and 

flowering shrubs in existence. 

The Camellia Society members 

have taken an active part in supplying 

the garden with desirable scions 

and plants of varieties not hitherto 

represented in the collection. We had 

growing in the garden hundreds of 

strong seedlings of C. Japonica to be 

used as understock; consequently, 

grafted plants of sturdy growth could 

be developed in a comparatively 

short time. I have personally inserted 

many scions myself in understock 

three and four inches in diameter. (In 

such cases it is advisable to insert 

from four to six scions into the stock.) 

In the field of educational influence 

and cooperation among camellia horticulturists, 

further developments have 

been taking place between the Test 

Garden of the Huntington Gardens, 

and one situated in Gainesville, Florida, 

under the auspices of the American 

Camellia Society. 

The Camellia Test Garden, as a 

specialized unit of the Huntington 

Botanical Gardens, is in full accord 

with the principal functions and aims 

of the American Camellia Society as 

applied at the Gainesville station. 

With regard to advantageous exchange 

of plant material toward the 

building up of respective collections 

of camellias, the managements of 

both gardens enjoy the fullest cooperation 

under similar authority in 

each. One anticipated result of such 

cooperation is the ultimate clarifying 

of the nomenclature of the group of 

plants in question-at present one of 

the most confused aspects of this particular 

horticultural endeavor. 

It will, of course, take several years 

more to assemble and bring to maturity 

the vast number of varieties in 

the trade, both in our own and in 

other countries, before adequate or 

comprehensive survey can be undertaken 

and reported. Meanwhile the 

work goes on. But the most immediate 

purpose in mind is to acquire enough 

additional varieties to attempt complete 

clarification of the nomenclature, 

as a scholarly starting point for 

future benefits to the professional 

grower, to the trade, and to the amateur, 

with respect to C. Japonica and 

other species of the genus Camellia.

Northern California Camellia Society 5 

FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION of the AMERICAN CAMELLIA SOCIETY 

The Fourth Annual Convention of 

the American Camellia Society was 

held in Sacramento on March 4, 5 

and 6, 1949, in conjunction with the 

Silver Anniversary Camellia Show of 

the Camellia Society of Sacramento. 

New officers are Arthur W. Solomon 

of Savannah, Ga., president; 

William T. Wood of Macon, Ga., vice 

president for the Atlantic Coast; S. 

Katz of Covington, La., vice president 

for the Gulf Coast; and Dr. William 

Hertrich of San Marino, California, 

vice president for the Pacific Coast. 

Lafayette, La., was selected as the 

1950 convention city. 

On Saturday afternoon, March 5, 

an open meeting was held in the 

Little Theater in Memorial Auditorium. 

There was a panel discussion by 

State Directors on "Camellias, Happenings 

Here and There." It was 

brought out that in various sections 

of the United States, camellia plants 

had survived freezing weather, snow, 

and even flood conditions, indicating 

their hardiness. 

Roy J. Wilmot, Chairman, presented 

the Committee Report on Registration 

of New Varieties and Nomenclature 

Clearance. So far there have been 

five varieties registered and about 

eight more are in process of registration. 

It was agreed that registration 

should be simplified as much as possible; 

that any new seedling sent in 

should be registered. 

Over a period of years, Mr. Wilmot 

has collected camellia varietal names, 

including nursery catalogs dating 

back to 1821 and literature. To date, 

he has four or five thousand varietal 

names, each on a separate sheet, giving 

description and source of information. 

Mr. Wilmot then discussed "Classification 

of Camellia Blossoms by 

Structural Forms." Classifications 

based on similarity to other flower 

forms are confusing, he said. Anemone 

form. They don't grow anemones 

in the South. Rose form. What 

Rose? Dr. Hume decided to work out 

a classification based on structure of 

the flower. 

A flower is composed of petals, 

stamens, pistil, sepals, Mr. Wilmot 

explained. The simplest flower has 

one row of petal bracts around base 

forming sepals. As flower changes, 

it becomes more and more complicated. 

These petals break up into 

more and more petals. Some of the 

sepals form petals. Stamens turn into 

petals. And even the pistil may be 

transformed into petals. Hume followed 

that process through from the 

very simple flower to the very double 

flower and classified according to the 

amount of transformation that had 

taken place. (Hume's Classification 

was used in the 1949 Show of the 

N.C.C.S. Ed.) 

Mr. Wilmot emphasized that in recommending 

flower classification for 

any show the flower should be set 

up primarily by variety if there are 

enough entries of one variety. (In 

both the Sacramento and Berkeley 

shows, a separate class was set up 

where there were seven or more entries 

of one variety. Ed.) 

A. P. Messenger, Chief, Bureau of 

Plant Quarantine, California State Department 

of Agriculture, talked on 

"Exchanging Scions and Plants; What 

Not to Do." Mr. Messenger explained 

that he is the man who puts up the 

"Stop" sign, tells people from other 

states, "You can't send in a plant," 

and tells Californians, "You can't 

have the plants." 

Mr. Messenger then told how one 

may ship plant material without tangling 

with his organization. First, 

don't bring in plants or scions that 

might have a pest on them because 

they will cause you a lot of trouble 

and may cause your neighbor a lot 

of trouble. The purpose of plant quarantine 

is to prevent the introduction 

of plant products that might do irreparable 

harm. All plant products 

must bear inspection upon arrival. If 

they are not so clean as the inspector


wants them to be, they will be rejected 

or given treatment. People 

should be disturbed about plant material 

that contains scale, bract weevil, 

moths, thrips, mites, nematodes, 

flower-blossom spotting. Californians 

should not send any plants or scions 

to other parts of California or to other 

states unless they are absolutely 

clean. 

K. Sawada, Overlook Nursery, Mobile, 

Alabama, was next on the program 

with his discussion of "Camellia 

Hybridization." Mr. Sawada said that 

his first dream for a future camellia 

is a fragrant flower. 

Mr. Sawada then referred to the research 

of Luther Burbank, in which 

he used thousands of verbena seedling 

plants. After much labor he 

found one little seedling flower with 

a scent. He isolated this plant, took 

the very best care of it, and obtained 

seed. Starting with this one little 

plant, he worked with generation 

after generation, making strict selections 

and finally succeeded in getting 

one strain which produced flowers 

with a scent. Probably a similar result 

could be obtained using camellias 

that have some fragrance. Cross them 

and make selections like Burbank 

did. 

"My next dream," said Mr. Sawada, 

"is to have a yellow or bluecolored 

camellia. Camellias have 

genes that produce color; but some 

of the genes are inhibited. Perhaps 

somehow it would be possible to 

change the chromosome pattern so 

as to obtain yellow flowers." 

The last number on the afternoon 

program was a talk on "Camellias, 

Their Use in Arrangements in Flower 

Shows," by Mrs. William T. Wood 

of Macon, Georgia, who is in charge 

of the Arrangement Contest. Last 

year there were 134 entries from all 

states except Oregon and Washington. 

Many do not realize that any 

member may submit a photograph of 

an arrangement that is made at any 

time. It does not have to be in competition 

in a show. A non-member 

can only submit an arrangement that 

is entered in a show given in cooperation 

with the American Camellia 

Society. 

Mrs. Wood does not advocate cutting 

with long stems or by the basketful. 

Very lovely effects, she said, 

can be obtained using the more common 

varieties like Sarah Frost, Pink 

Perfection, Jarvis Red. Just learn to 

use them in a charming, gracious 

way that is worthy of the camellia. 

At 6:30 in the evening, a Camellia 

Dinner was given at Hotel Senator. 

Carl M. Hoskinson, President of the 

Sacramento Camellia Society was 

Master of Ceremonies. 

Harold L. Paige, retiring vice president 

for the Pacific Coast, talked on 

"Purpose and Program of the American 

Camellia Society," the text of 

which appears elsewhere in this 

issue. 

"The Purpose and Use of the Illges 

Medal" was explained by Mr. William 

T. Wood of Macon, Georgia, 

vice president for the Atlantic Coast. 

Mr. Wood said that about two years 

ago some of the members of the 

American Camellia Society were discussing 

what to do to encourage hybridizers 

and amateurs to work for 

new seedling varieties. It was suggested 

that a medal be offered. John 

Illges of Columbus, Georgia, immediately 

offered to furnish such a 

medal. This year the John Illges 

Medal will be presented for the first 

time. To be eligible, the seedling 

must have been registered with the 

American Camellia Society; it must 

have won an Award of Merit of the 

American Camellia Society; and it 

must have been exhibited at a show 

held under their guidance. The actual 

gold medal was received by air mail 

during the convention, and Mr. Wood 

put it on display so that all in attendance 

could examine it. As time 

goes on, he explained, other requirements 

will be added. It will in time 

be the one award that will make a 

(continued on page 27)


CAMELLIA SOCIETY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY 

STAGES SEVENTH ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW 

Perfect spring weather greeted 

more than 6500 persons who attended 

the Seventh Annual Camellia Show 

of· the Santa Clara County Camellia 

Society on Sunday, March 13, 1949, 

in the Ford salesrooms at 375 S. Market 

Street in San Jose. 

Highlight of the show and the feature 

which distinguishes this from all 

other camellia shows was the review 

table conducted by Ted Moniz, Past 

President of the society. On it was 

exhibited the best specimen of each 

variety included in the show, arranged 

according to color: white, 

blush, pale pink, deep pink, rose, 

red, variegated, in a spectrum-like 

array of great beauty. The table displayed 

167 named varieties grown by 

members, including both amateurs 

and professionals. No prizes or award 

ribbons are given; but a place on the 

review table is highly coveted, for 

a bloom must be outstanding in form, 

color, substance and size to be selected 

for this honor. 

The show featured more than 2500 

individual blooms grown by amateurs 

as well as a large number of 

commercial displays, including potted 

and trellised plants, specimen blooms 

and flower arrangements. 

Another interesting feature was the 

information table where growers received 

advice on camellia culture. 

The table was conducted by David T. 

Rayner assisted by members of the 

society. 

Six varieties, new to the Pacific 

coast, were shown for the first time. 

MAY MEETING 

They were Mrs. Freeman Weiss, Rosary, 

Tiara, Tina Guilliard, Louise 

Weick and Mary Charlotte. 

A group of 26 camellia flower arrangements 

were displayed by society 

members and wives and friends 

of members. A high standard of artistry 

was maintained. These arrangements 

were shown by Mrs. E. Swickard, 

Mrs. T. J. Moniz, Yvone Moniz, 

Mrs. Gordon Hornall, Dr. A. J. Bollert, 

N. B. Miller, Mrs. V. Haugaard, Mrs. 

Elroy Shank, Mrs. Richard Wells, 

Mrs. Albert Foster, Mrs. William Reagan, 

Mrs. A. H. Raymond Jr., Mrs. 

Jack Batten, Mrs. John E. Rhoads, Mrs. 

Louis P. Bergna. 

The annual no-prize show is the 

single event of the year staged by 

the Santa Clara County group. It was 

begun in 1942 with a small show in 

Hotel Sainte Claire attended by 1200 

persons. No show was held in 1943. 

The 1944 display, however, was seen 

by more than 2500 visitors. In succeeding 

years the show has been attended 

by an average of 6000 persons. 

The main objective of the all-men 

camellia society is to stimulate public 

interest in camellias and to encourage 

their planting throughout the 

County. 

Louis A. Bergna was general show 

manager. Officers of the group include 

Charles J. DeLorenzo, president; 

J. F. Smaha, vice-president, and 

V. Haugaard, secretary-treasurer. 

Fifty-seven men belong to the society. 

The May meeting of the Northern California Camellia Society, Inc., 

will be held on Monday evening, May 2, 1949, at the Chabot School Auditorium 

on Chabot Road, about one-half mile east of College Avenue, at 

the corner of Patton Street, Oakland. Come and bring your blooms. This 

is the last meeting of this camellia season. 

7

8 Northem California Camellia Society 

FOURTH ANNUAL CAMELLIA SHOW 

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMELLIA SOCIETY, INC. 

The Fourth Annual Camellia Show 

of the Northern California Camellia 

Society, Inc. was held at the Twentieth 

Century Club in Berkeley on Saturday 

and Sunday, March 19 and 20, 

1949. 

Some three thousand visitors were 

in attendance, and each lady was 

presented with a camellia corsage 

through the courtesy of Toichi Domoto 

Nursery, Hayward. 

Special Awards 

This year for the first time trophies 

were awarded as special prizes for 

horticultural exhibits. (The names of 

previous award winners were engraved 

on the cups.) 

The Sweepstakes Award Trophy of 

the Northern California Camellia Society 

went to C. Breschini of San Jose, 

who accumulated 59 award points. 

Runners-up were Dr. Walker M. 

Wells of Piedmont with 58 points; A. 

R. Carstensen of Sacramento with 46 

points; Barlow W. S. Hollingshead of 

Orinda with 36 points; and Dr. G. 

Myron Grismore of Oakland with 34 

points. 

The Paige Trophy for the most 

outstanding C. Japonica bloom was 

won by Dr. Walker M. Wells of Piedmont 

with his Mrs. Howard Asper, 

a large, pale-pink semi-double. 

Benjamin F. Enos of San Leandro 

was awarded the prize for the most 

outstanding C. Japonica plant in container, 

the Miss Sylvia May Wells 

Trophy, for his floriferous Bella Romana. 

It will be remembered that it 

was the magnificent Reticulata speciment 

plant of Mr. Enos that won the 

Award of Merit at last year's show. 

An Award of Merit was given Toichi 

Domoto Nursery, Hayward, for a 

garden planting, featuring camellias. 

An Award of Merit was also given 

the W. L. Stoeckles' complimentary 

exhibit, which was spectacular not 

only for the usual blue-ribbon quality 

of their blooms - perhaps sweep- 

stakes quality would be more exact 

- but also for the originality and simplicity 

of their arrangements. Upon 

entering the main auditorium, visitors 

faced a huge fan with a mass arrangement 

of Chandleri Elegans camellias 

on an ivory base, on the far wall. 

Below this was a grouping of camellia 

arrangements in old Chinese pewter 

containers: Ville de Nantes with pine 

needles; Gigantea with redbud; Shin 

Akebono and Lady Clare Vgt., each 

with camellia foliage. 

Complimentary Exhibits 

Capitol Grounds, Sacramento, under 

the direction of Jerry Olrich, State 

Gardener, displayed over a hundred 

named varieties of camellias from 

their gardens which contain some 

1600 camellia plants and about 600 

named varieties. If you were impressed 

with this colorful and instructive 

exhibit, don't fail to visit the Capitol 

Grounds during the month of 

March and marvel at "the aristocrats 

of the garden" at the height of their 

bloom. 

Another complimentary exhibit of 

blooms which must have warmed the 

hearts of all camellia lovers, was presented 

by that dear lady, Mrs. Frank 

Edinger of Rosebud Farm at Hood, 

about 16 miles below Sacramento on 

the Sacramento river. Some of these 

seedlings were the offspring of her 

famous Wakanoura tree, which is 

thought to be the largest in the United 

States. It was planted by her father, 

an l3arly pioneer, some seventy-five 

years ago. 

A "thank you" exhibit of blooms 

came by air express from Portland, 

Oregon, from the camellia garden of 

the Gene Grischow family, guests of 

Dr. and Mrs. G. Myron Grismore on 

the recent Camellia Tour. 

Commercial Exhibits 

Courtesy exhibits of camellia plants 

and hundreds of outstanding speci-


SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF SACRAMENTO CAMELLIA SHOW 

The Silver Anniversary Camellia 

Show of the Camellia Society of Sacramento 

was held in the spacious 

Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento 

on Saturday and Sunday, March 5 

and 6, 1949, and was attended by 

many thousands of visitors, not only 

from all sections or California, but 

from the Pacific Northwest and the 

Deep South as well. 

Dr. Walker M. Wells of Piedmont 

won the Mrs. W. H. Pisani Trophy 

for the most outstanding flower in the 

show with his Shin Akebono, a blushpink 

single with prominent stamens 

and fine texture. 

Dr. G. Myron Grismore of Oakland 

won the Charles E. Nicholas Trophy 

for the best display of three blossoms 

with his Tea Garden strain of Donckelari, 

a richly-variegated, red-andwhite 

semi-double of fine substance. 

D. L. Sprague of Sacramento won 

the Chamber of Commerce Trophy 

for the best collection of named varieties 

with his exquisite, rare and unusual 

blooms. 

The Dr. Oscar F. Johnson Trophy 

for the best tray of seven camellias 

was won by Edwin T. Bedell of Sacramento 

wtih his outstanding flowers. 

David L. Feathers of Lafayette, President 

of the Northern California Camellia 

Society, was awarded the Mrs. 

T. L. Ryan Trophy for the best tray of 

eleven camellias with his stunning 

white Finlandias, which were well 

matched in size and form. 

The coveted Sweepstakes Award 

Trophy of the Camellia Society of 

Sacramento went to C. Breschini of 

San Jose, prominent in the affairs of 

the Camellia Society of Santa Clara 

County. 

Mrs. William H. Mills of Sacramento 

carried off the prize for the 

most outstanding flower arrangement, 

the Norman F. Schwilk Trophy, in the 

face of keen competition. 

Arthur E. Mohr, Show Manager 

and Counselor of the Camellia Soci- 

ety of Sacramento, won the prize for 

the best dsplay of three potted camellias, 

the Nurserymen's Ass'n. Award. 

The Gold Certificate of the American 

Camellia Society was awarded 

C. Breschini of San Jose; and the Silver 

Certificate was awarded David L. 

Feathers of Lafayette. 

CLASSES AND AWARDS 

1. SINGLE. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Shin Akebono) 

2-Frank Williams (Pink Poppy) 

3-Elizabeth Mackall (Apple Blossom) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (John IIIges) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (John IlIges) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (Pink Hibiscus) 

VARIEGATED 

I-A. R. Carstensen (Amabilis) 

2-Frank Williams (Miss Sacramento) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (Sarasa) 

WHITE 

I-Mrs. D. Early (Amabilis) 

2-Edwin Bedell (Amabilis) 

3-A. E. Morrison (Sierra Belle) 

2. SINGLE. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Shin Akebono) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Hibiscus) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Pink Daffodil) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-I. M. Lera (Christmas Red) 

2-H. V. Mitchell (Kreena) 

. 3-H. L. Paige (John IIIges) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Sarasa) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Amabilis) 

3-None 

WHITE 

I-Mrs. Helen Bachman (Sierra Belle) 

2-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Amabilis) 

3-Mrs. D. Early (Amabilis) 

HM-D. L. Feathers (Apple Blossom) 

3. SEMI-DOUBLE. One Bloom. 

RED OR ROSE 

I-C. Breschini (Tiara) 

2-C. Breschini (Pink Glory) 

3-H. L. Paige (Lady Mary Cromartie) 

VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (Flame) 

2-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Onigi) 

3-Frank Williams (Frizzle White) 

WHITE 

I-Mrs. B. C. Erwin (Lotus) 

2-H. L. Paige (Lotus) 

3-Frank Williams (Lotus) 

HM-Mrs. F. M. Scatena (Lotus)

NAGASAKI 

I-C. Breschini 

2-Mrs. B. C. Erwin 

3-C. Breschini 

4. SEMI-DOUBLE. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

. I-Mrs. Ron Simpson (Rainy Sun) 

2-C. Breschini (Pink Glory) 

3-None 

RED OR ROSE 

I-C. Breschini (Flame) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Marion Mitchell) 

3-None 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. L. H. Crowl (Wakanoura) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Anita) 

3-A. W. Sheean (Nagasaki) 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Finlandia) 

2-A. E. Mohr (Unknown) 

3-None 

5. LOOSE SEMI-DOUBLE. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-John C. Gist, Jr. (English 

Magnoliaflora) 

2-Pearl Blauth (Magnoliaflora) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Rev. John Drayton) 

HM-Dr. Walker Wells 

(Mrs. Freeman Weiss) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Frank Benedict (Courthouse Red) 

2-Rose Lee (Rainy Sun) 

3-D. L. Feathers (California) 

HM-J. E. Miller (Madam Jannoch) 

WHITE 

I-Mrs. Byron Davis (White Daikagura) 

2-Mary Gregson (Imura) 

3-H. Miller (Summer Beauty) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Frank Williams (Ettien Debiora) 

2-Frank Williams (Matsukasa) 

3-Linda Murfrey (Monjusu) 

DONCKELARI 

I-C. M. Hoskinson 

2-Dr. G. M. Grismore 


HM-Norman Schwilk 

6. LOOSE SEMI-DOUBLE. 

Three Blooms. 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Mrs. H. E. Bradley (Rainy Sun) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Regina dei Giganti) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells 


HM-J. E. Miller (Jannoch) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Donckelari) 

2-H. V. Mitchell (Donckelari) 

3-C. Breschini (Aspasia) 

WHITE 

I-Mrs. Byron Davis (Triphosa) 

2.3-None 


7. ROSEFORM IRREGULAR. 

One Bloom. 

PIINK 

I-Mrs. Albert Anderson (Pink Ball) 

2-Mrs. Albert Anderson (Pink Ball) 

3-Carl Hoskinson (High Hat) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Marie Bosworth (Imperator) 

2-Arthur Mohr (Te Deum) 

3-Mrs. Ellsworth Earle (Daikagura Red) 

HM-L. I. Snyder (Daikagura Red) 

VARIEGATED 

. I-Pearl Blauth (Daikagura) 

2-Frank Williams (Daikagura) 

3-H. L. Paige (A. Audusson) 

HM-Henry Hauser (Aspasia) 

WHITE 

I-D. L. Feathers (Dearest) 

2-Walter Christopher (Dearest) 

3-Edwin Bedell (Haku Rakuten) 

HM-Edwin Bedell (White Crane) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-H. L. Paige (Te Deum) 

2-Byron Davis (Daikagura) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (A. Audusson) 

8. ROSEFORM IRREGULAR. 

Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Rose Glory) 

2-H. L. Paige (Pink Star) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Herme Pink) 

HM-C. Breschini (Marie Keating) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (A. Audusson) 

2-William H. Harrington (Lady Campbell) 

3-Marie Bosworth (Imperator) 

HM-H. A. Wescott (Blood of China) 

VARIEGATED 

I-R. E. Hawtry (Herme) 

2-D. L. Feathers (Fragrant Striped) 

3-Elizabeth Mackall (Herme) 

WHITE 

I-D. L. Feathers (Finlandia) 

2. 3-None 

9. ANEMONEFORM. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-C. Breschini (Mrs. Charles Cobb) 

2-Albert Anderson (Governor Mouton) 

3-Mrs. George Star (Warratah) 

RED OR ROSE - VEDRINE 

I-Pearl Blauth 


3-S. C. Wortley 

HM-A. R. Carstensen 

VARIEGATED 

I-Ann Nash (Emperor Wilhelm) 

2-A. R. Stevens (Bidwell) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Vedrine Vgt) 

PROF. SARGENT 

I-Mary Gregson 

2-Mrs. J. J. Mackall 

3-H. A. Wescott 

HM-C. Wallaver 



HOW THE CAMELLIA CAME TO CALIFORNIA 

By A. E. Morrison, Director-at-Large, 

American Camellia Society, Sacramento 

The discovery of gold at Coloma, 

fifty miles east of Sutter's Fort (Sacramento) 

in 1848 was indirectly responsible 

for the early introduction of the 

camellia to California. Among the adventurers 

rushing to the gold mines 

were men with vision and foresight 

who sensed the business possibilities 

of the new region. In this group was 

a man by the name of James L. L. F. 

Warren, a New Englander. A biography 

of Mr. Warren is not available 

and because of its absence there are 

a few missing incidents in the story 

of how the camellia was brought to 

California, but the honor of its introduction 

belongs to him. 

Boston, Massachusetts, in the first 

half of the nineteenth century, became 

the leading camellia center of 

the United States. Mr. Warren, before 

coming to California, operated the 

Warren's Floral Saloon in that city 

and also the Warren's Garden and 

Nurseries, Nonantum Vale, Brighton, 

nearby. In his catalog of 1845 is a 

list of eighty-seven named varieties of 

camellias with mention being made 

of a number of unnamed seedlings. 

Mr. Marshall P. Wilder, President 

of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 

was interested in camellias and 

had developed a number of varieties. 

Two outstanding varieties were 

named Mrs. Abby Wilder and WilderE. 

These two were purchased by 

Mr. Warren in 1847 for $1000.00 and 

taken by him to England. While in 

Europe he visited many of the famous 

gardens and camellia nurseries in 

England, France and Belgium. Having 

disposed of his nursery at Boston, 

he was free to follow the Gold Rush 

to California, but instead of going to 

the mines he established a business 

at No. 15 J Street, Sacramento, in 

1851, doing business under the name 

of Warren & Co. He was an energetic 

man whose operations included a 

truck line into the mines and a branch 

store at Morman Island, east of Sacramento. 

His interest in horticulture 

was paramount, and the Warren & 

Co.'s New England Seed Store became 

a part of his enterprises in Sacramento. 

Advertisements of the New 

England Seed Store were printed in 

newspapers in January, 1852, announcing 

the expected arrival of a 

shipment of plants and seed. The 

anticipated shipment arrived and in 

the February 7, 1852, issue of the 

SACRAMENTO UNION this announcement 

appeared: 

TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS: 

3,000 pounds Fresh Garden Seeds. 

-We have received by the Panama, 

the finest lot of fresh Garden Seeds 

to be found in the country. OUR 

SEEDS ARE WARRANTED FRESH. 

The assortment contains every kind 

of seed; many of them entirely new 

varieties, and to be found nowhere 

else in this country. 

Also 3,000 papers FLOWER SEEDS, 

of new and beautiful kinds. Herb 

seeds of every valuable kind. 

A splendid set of Dahlia Roots, 

Roses, Camellias, Grape Vines, Bulbous 

Roots, etc. will be ready for 

examination in our hall over the store 

on Monday. 

Warren & Co.'s New England Seed 

________Store, J Street near Levee. _ 

Marine Intelligence, covering the 

arrival of the Pacific Mail Company's 

steamer PANAMA, mentions its arrival 

in San Francisco on February 3, 

1852 "from Panama via Acapulco 

and San Diego carrying 484 passengers 

and 40 females." 

This advertisement by Warren & 

Co.'s New England Seed Store is the 

earliest printed information concerning 

camellias in California. Specific 

varieties are not mentioned; however, 

subsequent articles, in Mr. Warren's 

CALIFORNIA FARMER, indicate that 

at least the following varieties were 

included in the first shipment: Alba

Plena, Fimbriata, Mrs. ·Abby Wilder, 

Wilderii and Lady Hume's Blush. 

The origin of the plants has not 

been established but material on 

hand indicates the shipment was 

trans-shipped across the Isthmus of 

Panama, loaded on the S.S. PANAMA 

at Panama City, thence to San Francisco, 

where the portion of the cargo, 

including the camellia plants, consigned 

to Sacramento, was transferred 

to river boats. 

Mr. Warren's faith in Sacramento 

and California as a camellia-growing 

center has been substantiated. His 

prediction in 1853 that "This truly 

magnificent plant unsurpassed in 

loveliness will ere long become acclimated 

with us to form our pride 

as an ornamental tree in our gardens," 

has been fulfilled. A nursery 

catalog issued by his firm in 1853-54 

carried the statement that "We are 

now constantly receiving collections 

from the best establishments in Europe 

and the United States; and our 

collection will be unequalled. The 

proprietors have just received a new 

and superb collection of rare kinds, 

from the most celebrated growers in 

Europe. A separate sheet catalogue 

will be issued in the autumn of 1854, 

giving a description of their character, 

etc., with their prices, etc." 

Mr. Warren was a man sincerely 

interested in agriculture, and he held 

annual displays of horticultural products 

in his Show Rooms at Sacramento 

as well as in San Francisco, 

where his activities were being transferred. 

These expositions led directly 

to the establishing of the California 

State Fair, the first one of which was 

held in San Francisco on October 6, 

1854. He was the first secretary and 

was largely responsible for establishing 

the fair as an annual event. It is 

not a surprise, therefore, considering 

this man's background, to find listed 

in the floricultural section of the first 

California State Fair an exhibition of 

the following varieties of camellia 

plants: Double White, Fimbriata, Candidissima, 

Caleb Cope, Duchesse 

Northem California Camellia Society 13 

d'Orleans, Double Red and Lady 

Hume. The Lady Hume is mentioned 

as being in flower. The exhibitors 

showing camellias were: W. and T 

O'DonnelL C. V. Gillespie, and W. C. 

Walker. 

Camellias appeared in San Francisco 

at an early date and the CALI 

FORNIA FARMER, issue of February 

2, 1854, carries an advertisement of 

W. C. Walker, San Francisco, calling 

attention to his stock of camellias, 

roses and geraniums. The Golden 

Gate Nursery, in August of 1854, advertised 

seventy varieties of camellias 

for sale. 

Interest in camellias in Sacramento 

was well established, and when Warren 

moved his headquarters to San 

Francisco the planting of camellias 

continued. Mr. A. P. Smith established 

a sizable outdoor planting and 

proved that this plant was adapted. 

to the climate and soil of the Sacramento 

area without resorting to arti- 

.£icial protection. Mr. Warren, in the 

CALIFORNIA FARMER, March 26, 

1858, had this to say about Smith's 

Gardens: 

"Among all the most gorgeous and 

beautiful gems in fair Flora's realm 

none can surpass L'Camellia, and 

however much we esteem its beauties, 

and worship its loveliness, we 

have never seen it bloom to such perfection 

in any country as this our 

adopted State, California. We have 

gazed for hours upon the finest 

blooms in England, in France, and in 

Belgium, as well as in various parts 

of the Union, yet, we are free to say, 

we have never seen such perfect 

blossoms in a group of the different 

kinds and colors as we saw, two 

weeks since at Smith's Gardens, Sacramento. 

We have seen the grand 

collection at Walker's Garden, at 

O'Donnell's, and those of Sontag on 

the Mission Road; but they were 

under glass, while those to which we 

now allude were grown by Smith's 

gardens, out-door culture, and we 



PURPOSE AND PROGRAM OF THE AMERICAN CAMELLIA SOCIETY 

By Harold L. Paige, retiring Vice President 

American Camellia Society 

Mr. Chairman, Members of the 

American Camellia Society and 

Guests: 

The subject of my talk this evening 

should, I believe, be changed 

somewhat. "Program and Aims of the 

American Camellia Society as Seen 

From the Pacific Coast." I am sure 

there are others who are closer to 

headquarters who have a better 

knowledge of what the Society's program 

and purposes are, than 1. But 

I can give you some of the reactions 

I have noted here in the West since 

this organization began some three 

and one-half years ago. 

When the 1946 Year Book first appeared 

on the Pacific Coast, those of 

us who saw it were delighted with it 

.We could hardly wait to get our subscriptions 

in. It was just what we had 

always wanted. After a year had gone 

by, we looked forward expectantly 

to the 1947 Year Book. It didn't come. 

We heard some grumbling, and some 

threatened to drop their subscriptions. 

Finally it came. And it was an exceptionally 

fine number. It more than 

made up for the delay in the printer's 

hands. All was forgiven. But you can 

see that so far we were chiefly concerned 

with what we could get individually 

from the American Camellia 

Society. 

To be quite realistic about it, it was 

the quality of the Year Books which 

sold us on the new society. And here, 

I think credit should be given where 

credit is due,- to Mr. R. 1. Wilmot 

and to his assistants, whoever they 

may have been. They have done a 

magnificent job and much of the 

early growth of the Society can be 

credited to their work. These year 

books are simply invaluable to the 

serious camellia grower, both as a 

text and a reference book. Incidentally, 

the 1946 and 1947 books are 

now out of print and will soon be collectors' 

items. 

From this restricted VISIon of the 

American Camellia Society as the 

publisher of a fine Year Book, we 

have seen the beginnings of a broader 

and more varied national program. 

At last, through our own cooperation 

with a national society, we have an 

opportunity to end the confusion in 

our nomenclature which has plagued 

us for so long, and probably cost all 

of us a good many dollars. Now we 

can centralize our registration in one 

National headquarters. We have our 

friends in the Southern California Camellia 

Society to thank for making 

this possible. They were first to organize 

their own system of registration, 

but for the sake of national uniformity 

they have agreed to clear 

their registrations with the American 

Society. This is a very gracious thing 

for them to do. 

Again, we realize that flower classification 

has been a difficult problem. 

Through the general adoption of Dr. 

Harold Hume's system, which is 

based solely upon botanical considerations, 

it is now possible to describe 

a given variety and have it 

mean the same thing to a reader in 

Seattle, Los Angeles or Savannah, 

Georgia. That is real progress. No 

longer do we have to know which 

rose or which peony is referred to 

when a variety is being described. 

There are other important projects 

which the Society is undertaking, 

which I cannot do more than mention 

- such as test gardens, research, 

awards of merit, and so on. We will 

be well rewarded by these efforts as 

time goes on. 

Now let us look at our Society from 

a different angle. To most of us, camellias 

are a hobby and, as a hobby, 

a source of real enjoyment. Our national 

society can be the means of 

bringing us into contact with others 

who enjoy our hobby all over the nation, 

as well as up and down the

Pacific Coast. I remember when attending 

the annual meeting of the 

Business Men's Garden Club of 

American in Portland, two years ago, 

seeing the name of Arthur Solomon 

of Savannah, Georgia, on the list of 

delegates. Immediately I remembered 

reading an article by him in the 1946 

Year Book called "The Trials and Tribulations 

of a Camellia Collector." 

Well I have had some trials and tribulations 

too, so I thought we ought 

to get together. We did have such an 

opportunity a month later when Judge 

Solomon was attending the Rotary 

Convention in San Francisco. We 

spent a day visiting camellia growers 

and I think we both felt that it was 

a day well spent. 

The American Camellia Society, 

through this annual meeting in Sacramento, 

has brought to California 

many of you whose names have likewise 

become familiar to us through 

your contributions to the Year Book. 

Weare most happy to have you with 

us and hope our hospitality will live 

up to our Western tradition. We hope 

that after you have talked camellias 

with us far into the night, you too 

will find that whatever sleep is left 

to you, will be refreshed by the 

thoughts of another day well spent. 

In view of these fine values which 

I have mentioned, some of us who 

have taken time to think about it, 

have been troubled by the lack of 

response on the part of our local societies. 

Why are there only a handful 

of us who are members of the National? 

Why do we not have 50 percent 

or more of our local members 

in the American Society, as is required 

for affiliation? I think this is 

the answer. Experience of the last 

three years has brought to light certain 

basic weaknesses in our Charter 

and By Laws. The organizational pattern 

not only by-passes the local societies, 

but it also enters into active 

competition with them for memberships, 

instead of offering a program 

that would encourage individuals to 

join and work through their own 


locals. Furthermore, three thousand 

individual members scattered all over 

the United States cannot possibly 

function as effectively on a national 

level as they could if working directly 

through their own local societies. As 

an example of what I mean, take this 

Convention. Mr. Wilmot could not 

write to Mr. Morrison and say to him, 

"Will you please arrange an annual 

meeting for us in March?" No, it 

couldn't be done by one or two individuals. 

It had to be done through 

a Society. So the Sacramento Society 

took over the job and we have it to 

thank for a fine piece of work. Our 

locals need the American Society. 

Equally, the American Society needs 

the local societies. Bringing more of 

the locals into the national framework 

is one of the most important projects 

for the American Society to undertake 

in the immediate future. Weare 

fortunate that the founders of this Society 

had the wisdom and vision to 

make By Law revision a very simple 

matter, easily accomplished. 

In order to achieve this end, a 

Committee should be appointed to 

study our Charter and By Laws and 

to sound out our local groups as to 

what kind of an organizational framework 

they will be willing to accept. 

At least a year should be devoted to 

this study. If it is done carefully and 

seriously, I am sure that proper ways 

will be found to greatly increase the 

usefulness and influence of our Society. 

This can be done without weakening 

or competing with our local 

groups. It should not be too much to 

expect that the American Camellia 

Society will have at least 2000 members 

on the Pacific Coast in the not 

too distant future. 

I am sure that all of us here are 

glad to know that such a Committee 

has been authorized by the Board of 

Directors at an earlier session today. 

To you who have come from the 

Southland to attend this meeting, to 

you who attended that first meeting 



CUNNINGHAME'S CAMELLIAS IN THE SLOANE HERBARIUM 

By H. Harold Hume, President Emeritus 

American Camellia Society 

Nearly two and a half centuries 

ago camellias were introduced to the 

western botanical-horticultural world. 

To be exact, the date was 1702. In 

that year, James Petiver, a London 

apothecary whose place of business 

was on Aldersgate Street, presented 

a paper at a meeting of the Royal 

Society in which he described a camellia 

and in his own publication, 

entitled "Gasophylacii Naturae and 

Artis," illustrated it. The description 

he gave is as follows: 

"93. Thea CHINENSIS Pimentae Jamaicensis 

folio, flore Rosaceo simplici 

Gaz. nost. Nat. Tab. 33. Fig 4. 

"Swa Tea s. Cha hoa Chinens. 

Herb. nost. Chin. pict. Tab. vi. Fig. xi. 

"Hoa in the Chinese Language signifies 

a Flower; and this Plant has a 

very beautiful one, for which reason 

and the variation of them (some being 

single and of a deep red as this, others 

white and some strip'd, there are 

also of these Colours with double 

Flowers) they and the Japoneze keep 

them as an Ornament in their Gardens. 

"Of these Leaves some are rounder, 

others pointed, they have the shape 

and stiffness of the Allspice or Jamaica 

Pepper, are somewhat serrated 

and grow irregularly on short thick 

footstalks, the young Flower-bud is 

scal'd like a Cone, when larger the 

squama are whitish and Velvetty, 

except the edges which are brown 

and transparent. The Flowers deep 

red, 5 Leaved and as big as a single 

Rose, and like it full of threads with 

yellow spices or beads. The Fruit 

about the bigness of a Chestnut, 

somewhat triangular, including under 

a very thick woody shell several 

seeds disposed into 3 Cells. It flowers 

in February." 

Petiver's illustration of camellia in 

the Gazophylacii consists of a twig 

with four leaves, two flower buds 

and two flowers, one with a side 

view, the other full face. 

Where did Petiver obtain the information 

on camellias contained in 

his paper in the Philosophical Transactions 

of the Royal Society? He 

stated clearly, in the heading of his 

article, where it came from, in part 

at least. The title is as follows,- "A 

description of some coralls and other 

curious Submarines lately sent to 

James Petiver, apothecary, and Fellow 

of the Royal Society, from the 

Philippine Isles by the Reverend 

George Joseph Cammel; as also an 

account of some plants from Chusan 

an Island on the coast of China; collected 

by James Cunninghame, Chyrugen 

& F.R.S." It is with the latter 

part of the this title that we are concerned 

here. 

The paper in question, presented 

in 1702 and published in the Transactions 

in 1704, has this subheading, 

"The Chusan plants received from 

Mr. James Cunninghame are as follows" 

and item 93 is the camellia 

description already quoted. A careful 

reading of this description leads to 

the conclusion that Petiver could not 

have written it without help from 

some one who had seen the camellia 

plants growing and in flower and fruit 

and that person probably was James 

Cunninghame (also spelled without 

the final e.) 

Petiver maintained a museum and 

the dried specimens of the camellia, 

as well as many other plants, were 

part of that museum. It must have 

been a collection of size and importance 

for at one time Sir Hans Sloane 

offered Petiver £4000 for it, a large 

amount of money in those days. After 

the death of Petiver in 1718, his museum 

passed into the hands of Sir 

Hans Sloane, celebrated physician 

and botanist, to become, later, part of 

the Sloane collections with which the 

British Museum (Natural History) was 

opened in London in 1759. 

There are four specimens of what 

now is known as Camellia iaponica 

,1 

1 I


GROWING CAMELLIAS IN CONTAINERS 

By Barlow W. S. Hollingshead, Secretary-Treasurer 

Northern California Camellia Society, Inc. 

Growing camellias in containers requires 

specialized culture and care to 

produce strong, healthy plants and 

obtain quality flowers. 

Assuming that container culture is 

to be followed throughout the life of 

a camellia plant, frequently the case 

in California, I shall discuss the various 

stages of growing camellias in 

containers, starting with rooted cuttings 

and seedlings. 

Rooted Cuttings and Seedlings 

The initial potting of young camellia 

plants is one of the most important 

steps in the process of growing 

sturdy, healthy plants. The texture 

and content of the soil and the size 

of container are equally important 

factors in the development of a strong, 

well-developed root system. A good 

root system is essential to maintain 

vigorous health and growth throughout 

the life of the plant. 

After the cuttings are well rooted 

in the starting bed, they should be 

gently lifted preparatory to potting. 

Three to twelve months' time is required 

to root cuttings in the startingbed, 

depending upon the variety, 

light and temperature conditions during 

this initial propagating period. 

The size of the container to be used 

in potting rooted cuttings depends 

upon the size of the root system. Varieties 

such as Sarah Frost, Tricolor 

Sieboldi and its many seedlings, 

which develop long, rambling root 

systems, should be placed in sixinch 

pots or gallon metal or wood 

containers. This affords space for the 

roots to spread outward and downward, 

forming the framework for a 

well-developed root system. Plants in 

the above size containers may remain 

for two years before repotting. 

Varieties such as Pink Perfection, 

Purity, and Mathotiana, that develop 

compact, fibrous root systems, may 

be planted in four-inch pots or in one- 

quart metal containers or slightly 

larger ones. Plants may remain in 

these containers for one year, at 

which time they should be repotted 

into gallon-size containers. 

To illustrate, I have here three potted 

plants, which indicate the size of 

containers to be used at the various 

stages of potting and the size and 

growth of plants that may be obtained 

during the first two years. The first is 

a Mathotiana rooted cutting that was 

potted in this one-quart metal container 

in October 1948, and will remain 

there for one year or until the 

fall of 1949. The second is a Sarah 

Frost rooted cutting that was taken 

directly from the cutting-bed and potted 

in this gallon container one year 

ago. It is now 13 inches tall and will 

remain in this container for another 

year. Sarah Frost develops several 

lateral roots 5 to 6 inches long during 

the initial rooting period. Such a root 

system should never be crowded into 

a 2Yz or 3-inch pot as a deformed root 

system will result. The third plant is a 

Duchess of Sutherland and is slightly 

over 2 years old from the date the cutting 

was taken. It is now 28 inches 

tall, quite well branched and has two 

flower buds. It was potted in a onequart 

container in the spring of 1947, 

where it remained until the winter of 

1948, when it was repotted into this 

gallon container. It is now ready to 

be repotted into a three-gallon container. 

The growth of these plants 

refutes the common statement that 

rooted camellia cuttings should first 

be potted in 2Yz-inch pots. 

In preparing wood or metal containers, 

place three-quarter-inch holes 

on four sides just above the bottom. 

This affords perfect drainage at all 

times as the holes never become 

plugged with soil. Place %-inch of 

Yz-inch blue crushed rock or small 

pebbles in the bottom of container. 

Cover the rock with a layer of wood

shavings (I use redwood and pine 

shavings mixed), then cover the shavings 

with peet moss. The shavings 

and peet moss act as a sponge to 

hold the moisture and as' a filter to 

prevent fine particles of soil from 

washing into the drainage field. The 

pot is now ready for the soil mixture. 

Fill the container half full of prepared 

soil and firm with the fingers, 

making a cone in the center. Place 

the roots of the young plant over the 

cone so that they point outward and 

downward in all directions. Hold the 

stem of the plant in the center of the 

container with one hand and fill in 

soil mix with the other and firm until 

the soil is about I inch above the 

root crown. Mulch the top with about 

I inch of pine needles and water 

thoroughly until drainage is observed 

from the bottom of the container. 

Place the young plant in a shaded 

location for two or three months until 

it becomes thoroughly established in 

the soil; then place in a partially 

shaded location. 

The most favorable time for potting 

rooted cuttings is October and November. 

Potting Mix for Rooted Cuttings 

and Seedlings 

The potting mix for young camellia 

plants should be loose but friable, 

of a texture that will stimulate root 

growth and allow easy penetration 

by the tender, young roots. 

The following soil mixture has 

given me satisfactory results for the 

potting of rooted cuttings and seedlings: 

25% or I part garden loam 

25 % or 1 part medium fine builder's 

sand 

50% or 2 parts humus, composed 

of equal parts of oak-leaf mold and 

Canadian peet. 

Add one gallon of well-rotted cow 

manure to a wheelbarrow load, or 

about 1 to 15. Mix the fertilizer thoroughly 

into the mix. 


The manure, plus the organic plant 

foods liberated by the humus, will 

furnish sufficient nutrient for the first 

six months. The humus will also keep 

the growing medium sufficiently acid 

to stimulate healthy plant growth. 

The soil in the mix will furnish other 

minerals necessary until the spring 

months, at which time, mild feedings 

of liquid fertilizer may be applied as 

directed below under fertilizing. 

Watering Rooted Cuttings and 

Seedlings 

Water the young plants about once 

a week, depending upon weather 

conditions and the amount of shade 

provided. The plants should be kept 

moist but not soggy. 

Fertilizing Rooted Cutlings and 

Seedlings 

Assuming that the rooted cuttings 

were potted in October and November, 

a weak solution of liquid fertilizer' 

may be applied, beginning in 

March of the following spring. Apply 

the liquid fertilizer about March 1, 

May 1, and July 1. The solution for 

small plants should be not more than 

one-fourth the strength recommended 

by the manufacturer. Discontinue fertilizing 

after July I to allow new 

growth before winter. 

Repotting to Larger Containers 

Rooted cuttings originally placed 

in 4-inch pots or one-quart metal containers 

should be repotted into gallon 

containers or 6-inch pots at the end 

of the first year. They may remain in 

these larger containers for two years 

unless excessive growth indicates a 

larger container is necessary prior to 

that time. 

Those rooted cuttings initially 

placed in 6-inch pots or gallon containers 

may remain in the original 

containers for two years, when they 

should be removed to 2 to 3-gallon 

containers, using a soil mix such as 

presented below.

20 Northern California Camt!llia Society 

Container Culture of Large 

Camellia Plants 

Camellia plants three years old and 

over and measuring 24 inches and 

over may be considered as large 

plants. The culture requirements for 

large plants is somewhat different 

than that for small plants. 

Potting Camellias to 

Large Containers 

Camellia culture in large containers 

includes 8-inch pots and 2-gallon 

wood or metal containers or larger. 

The soil mix and potting instructions 

to be followed are identical for all 

sizes of larger containers. Plants removed 

from 8-inch pots or gallon containers 

should be potted in 2 to 3gallon 

containers, preferably in 3gallon 

size. 

In preparing the large container, 

provide drainage holes, crushed rock, 

wood shavings and peet moss as outlined 

above under culture in small 

containers. Fill the container half-full 

of prepared soiL mix and firm with 

the hands, making a cone of soil in 

the center of the container. 

Remove the plant from 6-inch pot 

or gallon container and place into the 

prepared 3-gallon size container. Adjust 

the soil level so that the earth 

ball will be at least 2 inches from the 

top of container. Center the plant, 

spreading bottom roots over the soil 

cone and fill in with soil mix, firming 

with the fingers until soil is even with 

the top of the earth ball. Mulch with 

2 inches of pine needles and water 

thoroughly. 

The same procedure is applicable 

to balled and burlaped plants from 

the nursery. 

Potting Mix for Large Camellias 

(Sandy Loam Soil) 

The potting mix is somewhat different 

where sandy loam soil is available 

than where heavy clay or adobe 

soil is used. 

The following formula is applicable 

where the basic soil ingredient is 

sandy loam: 

40 % or 2 parts sandy garden loam 

20 % or 1 part fine sand 

40 % or two parts humus, composed 

of equal parts of oak leaf mold and 

Canadian peet. If oak leaf mold is not 

available, 40% peet may be used. 

To the above ingredients of one 

wheelbarrow load or 15 gallons, add 

1 gallon of cow or sheep manure, 2 

cups of acid fertilizer, such as RAC, 

1 cup of Agricultural Gypsum. Sprinkle 

the fertilizer over a layer of soil 

mix and repeat until all the fertilizer 

has been sprinkled over the mix. Mix 

all the ingredients thoroughly before 

using. The soil and sand should be 

slightly moist, not wet, before mixing. 

Do not apply water to the mix; 

merely use slightly-moist soil and 

sand in the mixture. This makes a 

loose, friable soil medium that will 

not be soggy. 

The Agricultural Gypsum is added 

to furnish calcium and to keep the 

soil loose and friable. Gypsum is 

slightly acid, having a pH of 6 to 6.5. 

Potting Mix for Large Camellias 

(Heavy Clay or Adobe Soil) 

20 % or 1 part adobe or clay soil 

20 % or 1 part sandy loam soil 

20 % or 1 part fine sand 

40 % or 2 parts humus, composed 

of equal parts of oak-leaf mold and 

Canadian peet. 

To the above ingredients of one 

wheelbarrow load of 15 gallons, add 

1 gallon of cow or sheep manure, 2 

cups of acid fertilizer such as R.A.C. 

and 2 cups of Gypsum. 

The additional cup of Gypsum in 

the clay or adobe mix is for the purpose 

of effecting a chemical reaction 

of calcium, potassium and sodium. 

The chemical reaction lightens the 

soil by freeing the soil particles in the 

clay or adobe soils. A concentration 

of magnesium and sodium salts in 

the heavy clay soils of California 

cause them to be sticky when wet 

and extremely hard when dry. As the 

Gypsum dissolves, it aids in forming

a balance of calcium, magnesium and 

sodium salts, which are beneficial to 

plant growth when in proper balance. 

This balance of salts makes it possible 

for the water to penetrate the 

soil mass more freely and assist in 

performing its function in plant 

growth, that is, carrying plant food in 

solution so that it is available for use 

by the plant. 

The process of keeping potassium, 

sodium and calcium salts in balance 

is even more essential in container 

culture than when camellias are 

planted in the ground. In California, 

most of our domestic water supplies 

come from melting snow and from 

rain water, stored in dams, which 

contain very few minerals. Usually 

these waters contain a high percentage 

of sodium salts, and may reach a 

concentration toxic to plants. Even at 

low concentrations they cause deterioration 

of the soil structure, and 

with constant use, the surface of all 

but extremely sandy soils will seal 

and prevent the wetting of deeper 

layers. (]) To counteract this condition, 

Gypsum is applied to effect a 

chemical reaction as described above. 

In using either of the above formulas 

for repotting, no further fertilizing 

need be done during the first year 

after repotting. 

The preferable time for repotting is . 

from November through April. The 

months of November through January 

are preferable as the plants are 

dormant and will develop new roots 

which will extend into the new soil 

mixture during the winter months. 

This will furnish plant food for the 

new spring growth and for bud development 

during the spring and 

summer months. 

Watering Large Camellia 

Plants in Containers 

Large camellia plants should be 

watered thoroughly after repotting 

and thereafter about once a week if 

the weather remains dry. During the 

winter months no watering is necessary 

unless prolonged dry and frosty 

Northem California Camellia Society 21 

weather prevails. During such periods, 

water as required, based upon 

the moisture content of the soil in the 

containers. 

During normal spring and summer 

weather, water once a week. During 

dry, windy weather or exceedingly 

hot days, it may be necessary to 

water twice a week or oftener. Soil 

moisture content and the condition of 

each individual plant should be considered. 

Fertilizing 

Large camellia plants should be 

fertilized at the end of the first year 

following transplanting to a larger 

container. For bloom development, 

apply the first feeding of powderform 

acid-fertilizer during the month 

of December. This application also 

stimulates storage of energy in the 

stems to support new growth during 

the following spring. The same procedure 

applies to large plants that 

have been in the same size container 

for longer periods than one year. 

The amount of fertilizer applied for 

the winter feeding should be about 

one-half the amount prescribed below 

for the spring feeding. 

In the spring a second application 

of powder-form acid-fertilizer, such as 

R.A.C., should be applied about the 

first of March. I have found the following 

amounts of fertilizer sufficient 

for healthy plant growth and bud development: 

1. Two tablespoons for 30 to 36-inch 

bushy plants in 5-gallon containers. 

. 

2. One tablespoon for 18 to 24-inch 

bushy plants in 2 to 3-gallon containers. 

3. One teaspoonful for plants in gallon 

containers. 

The plants should be watered two 

days before applying fertilizer if not 

previously moistened by recent rainfall. 

Immediately following the application 

of dry fertilizer the plants should


be watered to avoid burning the surface 

roots. 

Dry fertilizer must go through a 

molding process before it becomes 

available for plant food. For that reason, 

I apply a weak solution of liquid 

fertilizer, such as Likwid Gro, in the 

first watering following the application 

of dry fertilizer. The liquid fertilizer 

serves two purposes: 

(l) It moistens the dry fertilizer, and 

(2) it furnishes plant food readily 

available to the camellias while the 

decaying process is taking place in 

the dry fertilizer. 

The solution of liquid fertilizer, 

using Likwid Gro, should be 1 to 

1280. The following formula will give 

the above proportions when applying 

liquid fertilizer through the garden 

hose, the applicator or proportioner 

being in the ratio 1 to 16. One part 

dilute solution of fertilizer passes 

into the hose stream to 16 parts of 

water. 

Formula for Dilute Solution of 

Liquid Fertilizer 

1. Place 1 cup of Likwid Gro in a 

5-gallon jar or crock and fill with 

water. This is the dilute solution 

which is 1 part fertilizer to 80 parts 

water. Applying this solution through 

the proportioner into the hose stream 

at the rate of 1 part dilute solution 

to 16 parts water gives a solution of 1 

to 1280 at the hose nozzle. A stronger 

solution of Likwid Gro should not be 

applied as it may burn the roots and 

injure the plants. Likwid Gro has a 

high acid as well as nitrogen content. 

The above solution in water of pH 7 

at the tap will give pH of about 5 at 

the nozzle. 

2. For the small garden, or when 

it is desirous to fertilize only a few 

plants, use 1Y2 teaspoons of Likwid 

Gro to 1 gallon of water and apply 

directly to the plants. 

In my own garden I apply two 

additional feedings of liquid fertilizer 

of the above proportions: one application 

about April 15 and another 

about June 1. 

There should be no further fertilizing 

of plants of blooming size during 

the summer months, since an additional 

application will stimulate a second 

cycle of growth which will check 

bud development. 

Use of Phosphoric Acid 

Following the discontinuance of 

fertilizer, I start using phosphoric acid 

in the watering solution. Apply the 

first such watering about June 21, or 

three weeks after the last application 

of liquid fertilizer and follow through 

every three weeks during the summer. 

I water with phosphoric acid 

solution every third watering during 

the summer where the watering is on 

a weekly basis. 

Last year, the summer of 1947, I 

tried watering with phosphoric acid 

solution every week, but found that 

it stimulated too much growth, vigorous 

plants often putting out three 

cycles of growth in a year. At this 

rate one gets growth but sacrifices 

flower buds. 

The following formulas may be followed 

in applying phosphoric acid: 

1. For hand watering, put 10 C.c. 

of phosphoric acid in a gallon jUg, 

which makes a dilute solution to keep 

on hand for this purpose. Mix Y2 cup 

of dilute solution to a gallon of water 

and apply to the plants. 

2. For application through the garden 

hose, using a proportioner in the 

ratio 1 to 16: Put 10 c.c. of phosphoric 

acid, commercial grade 85 0 , in a 5gallon 

jar and fill the jar with water. 

This dilute solution taken through the 

proportioner, 1 to 16, will give a pH 

of about 5 at the hose nozzle when 

the water at the tap has a pH of 7.5. 

The amount of phosphoric acid in the 

dilute solution may be varied according 

to the pH of the tap water. The 

ideal pH at the hose nozzle is about 5 

to 5.5. 

Phosphoric acid applied in hard 

water with a high pH or alkaline content, 

neutralizes the alkali and lowers 

the pH, making the water acid.

Where camellias are grown in containers, 

it is advisable to correct for 

the alkalinity of the water. Constant 

application of water, bearing sodium 

in the absence of other salts, causes 

the soil to become alkaline. Water, 

bearing sodium, also seals the top 

soil so that water cannot permeate 

the root balL and it becomes dry and 

contracted, allowing the water to run 

down between the earth ball and the 

sides of the container. The plant is 

slowly poisoned and may die for lack 

of sufficient moisture. 

Phosphoric acid is also a good fertilizer, 

providing mild feedings of 

phosphorous, one of the essential 

elements in stimulating healthy root 

growth and general plant health; 

(l) California Agriculture, Vol. 3, January 

1949, p. 3. W. D. Doneen, Associate Irrigaticn 

Agronomist, University of California Experiment 

Station at Davis. 

The above talk was given at the January 3, 

1949 meeting of the N.C.C.S. 

Berkeley Show 

(continued from page 9) 

used papier mache to form a setting 

of gently sloping hills, planted to camellia 

trees, bearing red, pink, white, 

and variegated blooms. At the foot of 

the hills, a mirror was used to represent 

a lake. A gardener figurine with 

wheelbarrow was hauling a tubbed 

plant to its new location. The composition 

showed a marked degree of 

creative ability and artistic talent, as 

well as an understanding of the environment 

preferred by camellias. 

CLASSES AND AWARDS 

1. SINGLE. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Shin Akebcno) 

2-A. R. Carstensen (Shin Akebono) 

3-George Celeste (Pink Amabilis) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (John Illges) 

2-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Kreena) 

3-Dr. R. M. Cutter (Unnamed Seedling) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Amabils Vgt) 

2-B. W. Hollingshead (Amabilis Vgt) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Amabilis Vgt) 


WHITE 

I-A. R. Carstensen (Amabilis) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Amabilis) 

2. SEMI-DOUBLE. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Mrs. Howard Asper) 

2-H. L. Paige (Queen Bessie) 

3-H. D. Brown (Della Robbia) 

LADY CLARE 

I-J. G. Parmelee 

2-B. W. S. Hollingshead 

3-Helen D. Brown 

RED 

I-H. D. Brown (Flame) 

2-C. Breschini (H. A. Downing) 

3-A. E. Morrison (Flame) 

VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (King Lear) 

2-Dr. G. W. Richmond 

(A. Audusson Vgt) 

3-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (Ville de Nantes) 

NAGASAKI 

I-A. R. Carstensen 

2-D. L. Feathers 


DONCKELARI 

I-Robert M. Hoffman (Middletoni) 

3-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Tea Garden) 

3-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (English) 

WHITE 

l-e. Breschini (White Giant) 

2-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (Haku Tsuru) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Finlandia) 

LOTUS 

I-John D. Vasquez 

2-The Misses Daniel 

3-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson 

3. INCOMPLETE DOUBLE, LARGE 

PETALS. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-Otto M. Butzke (Gov. Earl Warren) 

2-H. D. Brown (Herme Pink) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Kumasaka) 

RED 

I-H. L. Paige (Margaret Higden) 

2-B. W. Hollingshead (Rose Glory) 

3-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Mathotiana) 

VARIEGATED 

I-H. A. Wescott (Cap!. Martin's Fav,) 

2-C. Breschini (Colonial Lady) 

3-H. L. Paige (A. Audusson Vgt) 

HERME 



3-Kenneth J. While 

WHITE 

I-A. R. Carstensen (Otome While) 

2-Rcbert Moore (White Crane) 

3-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Haku Tsuru) 

4. INCOMPLETE DOUBLE, SMALL 

INNER PETALS. One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-Mrs. Paul L. May (Kumasaka) 

2-H. V. Mitchell (Lady Mary Cromartie) 

3-H. D. Erown (Pink Countess of Orkney)


RED 

I-Kenneth J. White (Jarvis Red) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Gaiety) 

3-0tto M. Butzke (jackson;;) 

VARIEGATED 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Mikeniaku) 

2. 3-None 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Frizzle White) 

2-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Caprice) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (Haku Rakuten) 


AND SMALL INNER PETALS. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-A. E. Morrison (Pink Star) 



3-Mrs. Paul L. May (Pink Star) 

RED 

I-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson 

(Bessie McArthur) 

2-A. R. Carstensen (Victory) 

3-H. D. Brown (Emperor of Russia) 

VARIEGATED 

I-A. R. Carstensen (Argentinita) 

2-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Eugene Lize) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (Lady Jane Grey) 

WHITE 

I-Robert M. Hoffman (Nobilissima) 

2-D. L. Feathers (Haku Rakuten) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Nobilissima) 

6. DOUBLE, IRREGULAR. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-C. Breschini (Mrs. Grace Burkhart) 


(D.&D. Double Pink) 

3-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Pink Lady) 

PINK BALL 


2-A. E. Morrison 


DEBUTANTE 



3-Helen M. Wright 

MARCHIONESS OF EXETER 


2-Robert M. Hoffman 

3-Beniamin Enos 

CHANDLERI ELEGANS PINK 

I-Ralph S. Roy 


3-Kenneth J. White 

RED OR ROSE 


(Mrs. Charles Cobb) 

2-Mrs. C. G. Peterson (Daikagura Red) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Pride of Greenville) 

VEDRINE 

I-Mrs. C. Breschini 

2--Helen D. Brown 

3-A. R. Carstensen 

VARIEGATED 

1-0. E. Hopfer (Gigantea) 

2-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (Colletti) 

3-B. W. S. Holingshead (Peoniflora) 

CHANDLERI ELEGANS 

I-Kenneth J. White 

2-Mrs. W. S. Snook 

3-Mrs. Herbert Teachout 

WHITE 

I-None 

2-Sydney Munro (Edith Churchwell) 

3-None 

7. DOUBLE, INCOMPLETE 

IMBRICATED. One Bloom. 

PINK 


(Gen. George Patton) 


(Pink Marquis d'Exeter) 

3-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Pink Shell) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Matholiana) 

2-Robert M. Hoffman (Otome Red) 

3-Dr. G. Myron Grismore 

(Rosea Superba) 

DR. SHEPHERD 

I-Dr. J. H. Willmore 

2-0. E. Hopfer 


VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismcre (b Pepperrr.int) 

2-H. . Mitchell (Olome Spert) 

3-None 

WHITE 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead (K. Sawada) 

2-Robert M. Hoffman (Dante) 

3-None 

8. DOUBLE, REGULAR IMBRI 

CATED, OR TIERED. One Bloom. 

I-C. Breschini (Eleanor Hagood) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Ecstasy) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Otome Pink) 

LALLAROOK 

I-Richard Charles Brown 

2-0tto M. Butzke 

3-Kenneth J. White 

RED OR ROSE 

l-C. Breschini (Margaret Higdon) 

2-Mrs. C. G. Peterson (Pope Pius IX) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Margaret Higdon) 

C. M. HOVEY 

I-Ralph S. Roy, Jr. 


3-0tto M. Butzke 

VARIEGATED 

I-H. G. Sanders (Elizabeth Pink) 

2-C. Breschini (Brassenie) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Lallarook) 

WHITE 

I-D. L. Feathers (Alba Plena) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Snow Queen) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Otome White)

FIMBRIATA 


2-D. 1. Feathers 

3-Benjamin Enos 

PAX 


2, 3-None 

9. SINGLE; Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Oaiterin) 

2-Mrs. J. H. Biddle (Shin Akebono) 

3-None 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (John Illges) 

2-0r. Robert M. Cutter 

(Unnamed Seedling) 

2-0r. G. M. Grismore (Kreena) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Sarasa) 

2, 3-None 

WHITE 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Amabilis) 

2-A. R. Carstensen (Amabilis) 

3-J. E. Bachman (Sierra Belle) 

10. SEMI-DOUBLE. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-H. 1. Paige (Queen Bessie) 

2-0r. Walker Wells (Magnoliaflora) 

3-C. Breschini (Louise McClay) 

LADY CLARE 

I-Mrs. Charles W. Johnston 

2-A. E. Morrison 

3-None 

RED OR ROSE 

I-A. E. Morrison (Flame) 

2-C. Breschini (Firebrand) 

3-0r. G. M. Grismore (Flame) 

VARIEGATED 

I-H. V. Mitchell (DonckelariJ 

2-C. Breschini (Donckelari) 

3-0r. G. M. Grismore (Donckelari) 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Triphosa) 

2-A. E. Morrison (Lotus) 

3-Floyd R. Bourlier (Lotus) 

11. INCOMPLETE DOUBLE WITH 

LARGE PETALS. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-C. Breschini (Gov. Earl Warren) 

2-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (Pink Herma) 

3-H. G. Sanders (Elizabeth Pink) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-C. Breschini (Mrs. Roe's Favorite) 

2-H. A. Bogh (Yosemite) 

3-0r. G. M. Grismore (Mathotiana) 

VARIEGATED 

I-H. D. Brown (Herma) 

2-0r. Walker Wells (Sea Shell) 

3-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Herme) 

WHITE 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Edith Churchwell) 

2-0r. G. M. Grismore (Haku Tsuru) 

3-H. 1. Paige (Lotus) 

Northem Califomia Camellia Society 25 

12. INCOMPLETE DOUBLE. SMALL 

PETALS. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Kumasaka) 

2-H. V. Mitchell (Lady Mary Cromartie) 

3-H. A. Wescott (Davis' Rose Dawn) 


AND SMALL INNER PETALS. 

Three Blooms. 

RED OR ROSE 

I-J. F. Bachman (Emperor of Russia) 

2-Mrs. PaulL. May (Emperor of Russia) 

3-Benjamin Enos (Vedrine) 

VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (Mrs. Freeman Weiss Vgt) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Eugene Lize) 

3-). E. Bachman (Matsukasa) 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Nobilissima) 

2-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Caprice) 

3-Mrs. Anna Buzzine (Warratah White) 

14. DOUBLE IRREGULAR. 

Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Ralph S. Roy, Jr. (Francine) 

2-A.. E. Morrison (Pink Star) 


(Blush Pink Sport of High Hat) 

DEBUTANTE 

I-D. 1. Feathers 



RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Duncan Bell) 

2-Louis P. Glaudon (Princess BacciochiJ 

3-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Oaikagura Red) 

VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (Chandleri Elegans) 

2-Mrs. C. M. Hoskinson (Colletti) 

3-Mrs. J. W. Rhoades (Chandleri Elegans) 

15. DOUBLE, INCOMPLETE 

IMBRICATED. 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Harry Mohr (Dr. Shepherd) 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Mathotiana) 

3-C. Breschini (Dr. Shepherd) 

VARIEGATED 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Pink Lady) 

2-C. Breschini (Guilfolius Halleana) 

3-None 

16. DOUBLE, REGULAR IMBRI 

CATED, OR TIERED. 

Three Blooms. 

PINK 

1-). E. Bachman (Lallarook Clear) 

2-Harry Mohr (Caleb Cope) 

3-8. W. S. Holilngshead (Biho Pink) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (c. M. Hovey) 

2-C. Breschini (Pope Pius IX) 

3-Mrs. C. G. Peterson (Pope Pius IX)


VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (Lallarook) 

2-D. L. Feathers (Elizabeth) 

3-Dr. G. Myron Grismore (Elizabeth) 

WHITE 

I-Benjamin Enos (Pax) 

2-A. R. Carstensen (Alba Fimbriata) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Alba Plena) 

17. DISPLAY OF SIX BLOOMS OF 

DIFFERENT NAMED VARIETIES. 

I-Dr. W. Scott Holland. M.D. 

2-Herbert V. Mitchell 

3-Mrs. J. H. Biddle 

18. SIX BLOOMS OF ONE VARIETY. 

I-H. V. Micthell (Donckelari) 

2-D. L. Feathers (Pope Pius IX) 


(Ville de Nantes Vgt) 

19. 12 BLOOMS OF DIFFERENT 

VARIETIES. 

I-Mrs. Sara S. Tuckey 

2-Mrs. Charles W. J:;hnson 


20. 12 BLOOMS OF ONE VARIETY. 

I-H. V. Mitchell (Donckelari) 

2-D. L. Feathers (Shiro Tama) 

3-B. W. S. Hollingshead (Debutante) 

21. CAMELLIA PLANT IN 

CONTAINER. 

I-Benjamin Enos (Bella Romana) 



3-Harold L. Paige (C. M. Hovey) 

22. THREE POTTED CAMELLIAS. 

I-H. L. Paige 

(Pink Ball, Kumasaka, C. M. Hovey) 

2-George Ura 

(Waterloo, Kumasaka, Lady Van Sittart) 

3-Dr. Robert K. Cutter (Mrs. William 

Thompson, Lady VanSittart, Tricolor 

Sieboldi) 

23. CAMELLIA RETICULATA. 

I-Dr. Walker M. Wells 

2-Harold A. Wescott 

3-None 

D. L. Feathers was Show Chairman, 

assisted by Dr. Walker M. 

Wells. Dr. G. Myron Grismore was 

Chairman of Show Staging. A complete 

show report giving recognition 

to the workers who made the show 

possible is in preparation. 

Camellias to California 

(ccntinued frem page 13) 

confess we were astonished and delighted. 

These had been grown, quite 

exposed in a southwestern view, and 

for clean foliage, well-formed buds, 

and perfect blossoms, we never saw 

them excelled, although we have had 

a thousand blossoms open, in our 

own collection, within two weeks at 

a time, in former years, and have observed 

them closely. These facts, this 

blossoming of the Camellias at 

Smith's is a guarantee that the Camellia 

will flourish perfectly with us, 

as an ornamental tree, and we hope, 

in years to come, we shall have the 

pleasure to sit under the shade of 

this magnificent tree and gaze upon 

its beauties." 

Smith's Pomological Garden and 

Nursery, containing a collection of 

over forty varieties of camellias, was 

completely destroyed by floods in 

1861-62, never to be re-established. 

Camellias were now a part of Sacramento 

floriculture, and it is possible 

that specimen plants from these 

original collections may still be found 

in our gardens. Unfortunately, the 

origin of our old plants has been lost 

and their exact age is merely a guess. 

There is one specimen near Courtland, 

approximately twenty miles below 

Sacramento, that is known to 

have been planted in 1860. It is a 

form of Warratah. The tree is healthy 

and produces an annual crop of several 

thousand blossoms. This tree is 

considered the oldest camellia of record 

in California. 

Three excellent specimens of camellias 

are to found at Hood, fifteen 

miles below Sacramento. The oldest 

of thees, planted about 1874, is a Tricolor 

(Wakanoura). It is 22 feet in 

height, has a trunk circumference of 

40 Yz inches and a branch spread of 

29 feet. A Purity (l) close by was 

planted a few years later. It is crowded 

and has made a tall slender growth 

reaching a height of 28 feet 8 inches. 

A Frau Minna Seidel (Pink Perfection) 

(1), in the same group, and planted

about the same time as the Purity, 

is 26 feet talL has a trunk circumference 

of 38 inches and a branch 

spread of 26 feet. The measurements 

were made in December, 1946. 

The planting of camellias during 

the nineteenth century was limited to 

specimen trees, with little thought 

being given to collections. In the 

1880's, many homes sported camellias 

and it became a custom, according 

to Judge Peter J. Shields of Sacramento, 

for the "gentry to drive their 

buggies and phaetons on Sundays 

and on afternoons and early evenings 

just to see the beautiful blooms. A 

fashionable dancing club gave an 

annual camellia dance and the blooms 

were much in demand." 

Interest in camellias diminished toward 

the turn of the century but a 

small group of men, alert to the value 

of the plant, brought about a renewed 

interest in it, and they were able to 

establish the use of the name Camellia 

City for Sacramento early in the 

1900's. This slogan was quickly made 

use of by many business firms, and 

Camellia City markets, stores, establishments, 

apartment houses, etc., 

came into being. The term Camellia 

City was never made official because 

of legal complications; however, the 

camellia was made the official flower 

of Sacramento through resolution of 

the city council on February 7, 1941. 

The holding of an annual Camellia 

Show was originated in 1925 at a dinner 

given by the Sacramento Chamber 

of Commerce, where a number 

of baskets of camellias were exhibited 

and prizes awarded for the best 

display. The following year, 1926, the 

show took definite form and has been 

an annual event ever since. The show 

was greatly expanded in 1948, with 

facilities being- made available at the 

Sacramento Municipal Auditorium by 

the City Government. 

The exact number of camellias in 

Sacramento is a matter of guess; however, 

an estimate of 35,000 trees does 

not seem too far out of line, considering 

the fact that annual plantings of 


camellias in Sacramento during the 

past seven years have averaged close 

to 4000 plants. The largest single 

planting is in Capitol Park, where 900 

camellias are to be found representing 

450 varieties. One feature in the 

park is a grove of camellias dedicated 

to early Sacramento pioneers. This 

grove at present contains 153 plants. 

Present-day plantings and the wide 

use of camellias in California are truly 

a complete fulfillment of the early 

predictions of a man with vision, Col. 

James L. L. F. Warren (the title of 

Colonel was conferred upon him by 

General Sutter). 

(1) These were evidently direct impcrts from 

Japan because Frau Minna Seidel (Pbk Perfection) 

was not named in Eurcpe until 1890 and 

it is established that Furity is a renamed 

Shira-giju. 

Courtesy American Camellia Scciety, American 

Camellia Yearbook 1947, pp. 1-5. 

ACS Convention 


variety of C. Japonica known and desirable 

to any hybridizer. If a seedling 

receives an award of merit this 

year but does not receive the Illges 

MedaL it is still eligible for the medal 

during the following two years. 

Next on the program was an illustrated 

talk on "The Verschaffelt Camellias" 

by Dr. David W. McLean of 

Arcadia, A.C.S., Director of California 

and a prominent member of the 

Southern California Camellia Society, 

in which he presented a series of 

kodachrome slides of the plates of the 

Verschaffelt books, published from 

1848-60. Dr. McLean was anxious that 

his audience catch the full significance 

of these plates in our present 

nomenclature problems. As he read 

a copy of Hume & McIlhenny's translation 

of the text of the Verschaffelt 

books, he began to see unfolding before 

his eyes the beginning of the 

nomenclature problem. Already they 

were developing synonyms and errors 

and points of confusion.


Through the library at the University 

of California, he said, it had been 

arranged with the library at Harvard 

to have the Verschaffelt books, as 

well as the earliest book we have on 

camellias, that of Samuel Curtis, sent 

out to California. "I was invited to 

Manchester Boddy's home to see 

these plates," he continued. "There 

were 623 of them. We sat around a 

large drawing room in groups of twos 

and threes admiring those plates. I 

suggested that we have kodachrome 

slides made. The following Sunday 

we met at the home of McCaskill. 

Anne Galli and Robert Casamaior 

were there, too. We went over the 

plates and put markers in the books. 

Some selections were of camellias 

not now in existence; others were of 

varieties known today under a different 

name. Verschaffelt showed no 

singles and no semi-doubles." Apparently 

formal doubles were preferred. 

Dr. McLean then showed some 

slides of the Camellia Test Garden in 

Huntington Botanical Gardens at San 

Marino, one of the gardens accredited 

by the American Camellia Society. 

He went on to explain that one day 

in 1944, Anne Galli, one of the backbone 

members of the Southern California 

Camellia Society was walking 

with a group of camellia enthusiasts 

through what Mr. Huntington used to 

call the Japanese Camellia Canyon. 

Thousands of seedlings had sprung 

up under the trees whose seeds had 

been dropped. As she went along 

she suggested a test garden be set 

up there by grafting onto these large 

understock. Dr. Hertrich was delighted. 

A test garden was set up. In 

this garden there are over 600 varieties. 

The most recent acquisition is 

No. 1402 from Australia and some 

seed from China. All blossoms are 

checked as they bloom. No lists are 

published until they have been 

checked." 

Referring to the lack of interest in 

camellias the early part of this century, 

Dr. McLean concluded, "The 

saving situation today is the great 

diversity of camellias." 

President-elect Arthur W. Solomon 

then proposed a resolution to give Dr. 

H. Harold Hume, the outgoing President, 

the title of President Emeritus. 

The members were in unanimous 

accord and it was so ordered by President 

Solomon. 

The remainder of the evening was 

spent in friendly conversation. 

Cunninghame's Camellias 


before the letter but he did not complete 

the voyage and was never 

heard of again. 

To James Cunninghame goes credit 

for the first specimens of Chinese 

plants that enriched the herbaria of 

Ray, Petiver, Plukenet and Sloane 

who repeatedly thanked him for his 

contributions. Plants have their histories 

and so have men who worked 

with them. 

My thanks are due Dr. J. Ramsbottom, 

Director and Dr. W. M. Philipson 

and Mr. A. J. Wilmot of the staff 

of the British Museum (Natural History), 

for their assistance in unravelling 

the story of the Cunninghame 

specimens. 

ACS Program 


at the Dempsey Hotel in Macon Georgia, 

on September 29, 1945 and who 

pledged the $2000.00 necessary to 

start this society on its way, we offer 

our sincere thanks for a job well 

begun. I feel that I know our Pacific 

Coast Societies well enough to say 

that with proper revision of the By 

Laws, we stand ready to give the 

American Society our fullest cooperation, 

in order that it· may become 

truly national in scope. 

For a society which is little more 

than three years old, it has already 

accomplished great things in a very 

short space of time. The years ahead 

offer still greater opportunities for 

growth and accomplishment.

Sacramento Show 

(continued from page II) 

10. ANEMONEFORM. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-D. 1. Feathers (Francine) 

2-C. Breschini (Rose Linda) 

3-D. 1. Feathers (Stile Pink Perfection) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Duncan Bell) 

2-C. Breschini (Duncan Bell) 

3-Gerry Da Prato (Warratah) 

VARIEGATED 

I-C. Breschini (Marchioness of Salisbury) 

2-Mrs. J. M. Daigle (Vedrine Vgt) 

3-D. 1. Feathers (Vedrine Vgt) 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Chandleri Alba) 

2-C. K. McClatchy (Mrs. Abby Wilder) 

3-None 

11. PEONIFORM. One Bloom. 

PINK - Judged separately 

HM-Frank Williams (Miss Pasadena) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Mrs. Irene Fisher 

(Marchioness of Salisbury) 

2-C. Breschini (Strawberry Blonde) 

3-Frank Williams (Marchioness of Exeter) 

HM-Mrs. Selma Schwartz (Peoniflora) 

WHITE 

I-Dr. G. M. Grismore (Haku Tsuru) 

2-Mrs. 1. I. Snyder (Nobilissima) 

3-Mrs. Pickett (Caprice) 

HM-Frank Williams (Victory White) 

COLETTI MACULATA 

I-Albert Anderson 

2-Mrs. Irene Fisher 


HM-A. B. S. Foale 

12. PEONIFORM. Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Mrs. Fred Moore 

(Marchioness of Exeter) 

2-K. Malcolm (Pank Ball) 

3-Mrs. J. E. Morgan 


ARAJISHI 

I-Beth Kimball 

2-Mrs. J. M. 1. Eva 

3-Mr. R. W. Pierson 


VARIEGATED 

1-0. 1. Feathers (Pink Lady) 

2-Irene Fisher (Marchioness of Salisbury) 

3-A. B. S. Foale (Colletti) 

WHITE 

1-1. I. Snyder (Nobilissima) 

2-Mrs. Laura Seagstack (Caprice) 

3-None 

HM-H. C. Wortley 


13. COMPLETE DOUBLE. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-D. 1. Feathers (Mrs. K. Sawada) 

2-Herman Mueller (Lot 7) 

3-Frank Williams (Mrs. K. Sawada) 


RED OR ROSE 

I-Mrs. 1. I. Snyder (C. M. Hovey) 

2-Arthur Mohr (C. M. Hovey) 

3-Dr. Walker Wells (Pope Pius IX) 

HM-Minnie Straubel (Col. Firey) 

VARIEGATED 

I-H. A. Wescott (Capt. Martin's Fav.) 

2-Pearl Blauth (Lallarook) 



HM-Herman Mueller (Laurel Leaf) 

HM-Mrs. Wayne Swart (Eureka Vgt.) 

WHITE 

I-S. C. Wortley (Fimbriata) 

2-Frank Williams (Mrs. K. Sawada) 

3-Mrs. Harold Bradley (Fimbriata) 

14. COMPLETE DOUBLE. 

Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-Mrs. Helen Bachman (Laurel Leaf) 

2-Herman Mueller (Lot 7) 

3-C. Breschini (Lady Hume's Blush) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-S. C. Wortley (Belgian Red) 

2-1. J. Snyder (Mathotiana) 

3-H. 1. Paige (C. M. Hovey) 

VARIEGATED 

I-Mrs. Helen Bachman (Kitutogi) 

2-A. R. Carstensen (Laurel Leaf) 

3-Mrs. Ed Dettling (Mme. Le Bois) 

WHITE 

I-S. C. Wortley (Fimbriata) 

2-Marie Van Antwerp (Mrs. K. Sawada) 

3-Pearl Blauth (Elizabeth) 

HM-Mrs. J. 1. Ryan (Ecstasy) 

15. ROSEFORM, REGULAR. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-P. P: Moeszinger (John Laing) 

2-Frank Williams (Roseform Seedling) 

3-A. R. Carstensen (Pink Bleichroeder) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Frank Williams (Mathotiana) 

2-M. J. Bettencourt (Julia Drayton) 

3-John C. Gist. Jr. (Julia Drayton) 

VARIEGATED 

I-A. R. Carstensen (Madge Higdon) 

2-Arthur Mohr (Bleichroeder) 

3-Mary Gregson (Comte de Gomer) 

WHITE 

I-Mary Gregson (Otome) 

2-Mrs. Byron Davis (Otome) 

3-Mrs. George Kaminsky (Teutonia) 

16. ROSEFORM, REGULAR. 

Three Blooms. 

PINK 

I-C. Breschini (Sacco Rose) 

2-H. 1. Paige (Mrs. Josephine Hearn) 

3-None 

RED OR ROSE 

I-J. B. Rasmussen (Black Prince) 

2-Mrs. George Davis (Cheerful) 

3-Marie Van Antwerp (Otome Pink)


VARIEGATED 

I-Mrs. J. E. Morgan (Comte de Gomer) 

2-Mrs. Mary Harris (Eureka Vgt) 

3-Mrs. J. M. Daigle (Capt. Martin's Fav.) 

WHITE 

I-C. Breschini (Shiro Tama) 

2-Mrs. J. Blackford (Otome White) 

3-Arthur Mohr (Purity) 

17. CAMELLIA SASANQUA 

OR SALUENENSIS. 

Single. One Bloom. 

APPLE BLOSSOM 

I-Mrs. Byron Davis 

2-Mrs. J. E. Morgan 

3-Mrs. R. W. Pierson 

18. CAMELLIA SASANQUA 

OR MALIFLORA. 

Double. One Bloom. 

I-D. L. Feathers (Showa No Sakae) 

3-D. L. Feathers (Hiryo) 

3-None 


One Bloom. 

I-Harold A. Wescott 

2, 3-None 


Three Blooms. 

I-Harold A. Wescott 

2, 3-None 

21. BOUTONNIERE CLASS. 

One Bloom. 

PINK 

I-H. V. Mitchell (Lady Hume's Blush) 

2-Dr. Waiker Wells (Claudia Lea) 

3-Mrs. R. E. Hawtrey (Pink Perfection) 

PROF. SARGENT 

I-Kenneth L. Byers 

2-H. A. Wescott 

3-Arthur Mohr 

VARIEGATED 

I-Dr. Walker Wells (Collettil 

2-Dr. Walker Wells (Ville de Nantes) 

3-Mrs. George Davis (Hopkins Vgt) 

22. No Awards. 

23. SEVEN OR MORE BLOOMS, 

DIFFERENT VARIETIES. 

I-Edwin Bedell 


3-None 

HM-Dr. Walker Wells 

HM-Herman Mueller 

24. ELEVEN OR MORE BLOOMS, 

ONE VARIETY. 

PINK 

I-George Rothney 


2-Roy Wiegand (Pink Perfection) 

3-H. V. Mueller (Lot 7) 

RED OR ROSE 

I-Mrs. J. E. Miller (Mme. Jannoch) 

2-Mrs. David (Mme. Jannoch) 

3-Mrs. N. C. Nostler (Mme. Jannoch) 

HM-Calvin Polmer (Ruby Glory) 

DAIKAGURA 

I-J. E. Moore 

2-Mrs. William Bock 

3-David Roberts 

HM-Mrs. R. A. Gunth 

WHITE 

I-D. L. Feathers (Finlandia) 

2-Helen Kimball (Fimbriata) 

3-Mrs. Fred Nold (Alba Plena) 

HM-Richard Muljab (Alba Plena) 

25. ONE POTTED CAMELLIA. 

I-Betty Smith (Belgian Red) 

2-John E. Gist (Laurel Leaf) 

3-J. C. Bettencourt (Laurel Leaf) 

26. THREE POTTED CAMELLIAS. 

I-Arthur Mohr 

2-Albert Anderson 

3-Albert Anderson 

SPECIAL CLASS 4. Trays of 3 singles. 

GRANDIFLORA ROSEA. 

I-J. D. Faustman 

2-Arthur Mohr 

3-Harold L. Paige 

HM-Mrs. Sam H. Cohn 

FLAME 

I-Walter Christopher 



H. A. DOWNING 

I-Harold L. Paige 

2-Frank Williams 

3-Edwin Bedell 

ALBA PLENA 

I-Mrs. Byron Davis 




SPECIAL CLASS - 7 or more entries 

of one variety. 

DAIKAGURA 

I-Elsie Janssen 




DAIKAGURA RED 

I-B. W. S. Hollingshead 


3-Mrs. L. I. Snyder 

HM-Byron Davis 

VEDRINE 

I-S. C. Wortley 



HM-J. H. McMahon

PROF. SARGENT 


2-Harold A. Wescott 


HM-S. C. Wortley 

CHANDLERI ELEGANS 

I-Mrs. Henry Brown 

2-Mrs. Byron Davis 


GRANDIFLORA ROSEA 

l-K. Malcolm 

2-A. E. Leffla 

3-Selma Schwartz 

HM-Mrs. George M. Davis 

ALBA PLENA 


2-Mrs. J. Blackford 

3-Edwin Bedell 

ALBA PLENA 

I-D. L. Feathers 

2-Mrs. Harold Protzman 

3-None 

A Camellia Tour was arranged on 

March 7, 1949 for the entertainment 

of visitors from the Deep South and 

the Pacific Northwest who had come 

to California to attend the annual convention 

of the American Camellia Society. 

At nine o'clock in the morning, 

members of the Northern California 

Camellia Society called for their 

guests at Hotel Claremont in Berkeley. 

The caravan of cars proceeded 

across the San Francisco Bay Bridge, 

along the Embarcadero, Fisherman's 

Wharf, Marina and Yacht Harbor, 

through Golden Gate Park, and down 

the Peninsula. In Golden Gate Park, 

the nationally celebrated Magnolia 

Campbelli tree was seen in full 

bloom. Some of the cars also went 

across the Golden Gate Bridge to 

give the visitors a glimpse or Marin 

County. 

The party then proceeded to Lou's 

Village on Highway 17 where the Camellia 

Society of Santa Clara County 

were hosts at luncheon. Each lady 

Northern California Camellia Societ)' 31 

CAMELLIA TOUR 

ARAJISHI 

I-William E. Thomas 

2-William Bryant 

3-Mrs. William R. W. Newman 

MARCHIONESS OF EXETER 

I-Mary Gregson 

2-Mrs. Albert Anderson 



DEBUTANTE 


2-Frank Williams 

3-S. C.Wortley 

HM-A. W. Sheean 

PINK BALL 

l-S. C. Wortley 

2-K. Malcolm 


HM-Mrs. Myron Davis 

DEBUTANTE 

I-C. Breschini 



HM-A. W. Sheean 

was presented with a white camellia 

corsage, and there were a number of 

favors at each place setting, including 

colored pictures of -the Santa 

Clara Valley at Blossom Time and the 

Rose Garden at San Jose. 

The visitors were also taken to a 

number of specialty nurseries so that 

they could see how we on the Pacific 

Coa'st grow camellias in containers. 

Hundreds of specimen plants were in 

full bloom. 

After motoring back to Berkeley, 

the visitors were entertained at small 

dinner parties at the homes of merrc 

bers of the Northern California Camellia 

Society or at the Claremont 

Hotel. 

After dinner, the two societies held 

a joint meeting and miniature camellia 

show in the auditorium of the 

Chabot School in Oakland. 

Mr. Roy J. Wilmot, Secretary of the' 

American Camellia Society, was 

guest speaker, taking as his subject, 

"Research in Camellia Culture," 

which will be covered in a BULLETIN 

article.


CHIYO-NO-HANAGATA (Dorothea 

Blanche) Delicate pink shaded white; 

large, billowy semi-double to incomplete 

double of unusual beauty. Japanese 

import. 

SHIN AKEBONO Blush-pink single 

of good substance, with central 

stand of prominent stamens. Judged 

best flower in 1949 Camellia Show at 

Sacramento. 

Courtesy SUNSET Magazine. 

Photographs by Past Director Herbert V. Mitchell. 

PIERETTE White, striped and dotted 

with pink; varies from incomplete 

imbricated that may open to show 

stamens to fluffy double irregular. 

ARRABELLA Light brick-red incomplete 

double, folded upright petals 

intermixed with stamens. Seedling 

of Mrs. Frank Edinger; named for her 

sister.

CAMELLIA JAPONICA - GOVERNOR EARL WARREN - Immense ...

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